Send in the Clowns

Fewer crimes, more expulsions and more shaming.

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While Advisory Opinions continues its slow transformation into a dating podcast, Jonah invites Sarah Isgur back to The Remnant for some potent punditry on the unfolding 2024 election. Are the Bidens a crime family? Is it inevitable that Trump will be renominated? And what would a second Trump term actually look like? All of these questions and more will be addressed, but you’ll need to stick around until the end to learn about a man’s correct placement on the sidewalk and the virtues of food sharing.

Show Notes:

–The Remnant with Frank Foer

–New York Times: “Why a Second Trump Presidency May Be More Radical Than His First”

–Robert Kagan: “A Trump dictatorship is increasingly inevitable. We should stop pretending.”

–Jonah: “George Santos hasn’t been convicted of a crime. Congress was still right to kick him out”

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Comments (102)
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  1. Julie

    A Dispatch dating site feature is a great idea so single Dispatchers can meet!

    I enjoyed the show, all of it! And yeah, I do like it when a guy takes the street side of the sidewalk.

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  2. Clark.Monson

    Regarding the dating rules, I'm all in favor of basic etiquette. Guys opening doors and paying for the date, being on your most gentlemanly behavior--all good things. Judging a man who didn't know to go first through the revolving door? At some point, any marriage is going to require a lot of forbearance and tolerance. Sarah had altogether too many rules for how men should behave or they're docked points.

    We already have trouble convincing young people to engage in more formal courtship. Why would we want to further disincentivize them by pushing a Talmudic list of dating etiquette and dealbreakers? Just be a polite gentleman or a gracious lady to the best extent you can, and forgive a few foibles in the other person if you otherwise enjoy their company and think you would make a great match.

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    Rob W

    I absolutely love listening to Jonah and Sarah talk about anything. They have such great chemistry.

    I am proud to say that I both followed while dating and follow now with my soon-to-be fiancé all of the rules of etiquette espoused by Jonah and Sarah. Notwithstanding that, it took twelve years of post-divorce dating and relationships to find her. The one rule with which I have a small quibble is the revolving door. If there is both a large enough area for to to walk into and an easily grabbable piece of the door, I will let her go in first and then start the door moving for her and follow up behind.

    In addition, We wouldn't be where we are without our having disclosed our dealbreakers and most commonly received relationship critiques very early on, in fact before our first date. We live 300 miles apart (for now) and after meeting online, it was going to be almost a month before she was back here. It seemed prudent to get it all out on the table so that we knew we weren't wasting our time. By the time we finally met, we had talked for about 40 hours on the phone and were friends. We fell in love on the first date. I am the luckiest man alive.

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    Steven Potter

    I liked the dating talk. I had never heard that there was a correct side of the sidewalk for a guy to walk with a lady. In the last few years, I started seeing women mention it on their dating profiles as a pre-requisite piece of knowledge they expect guys to know. Prior to that I can recall only one time on a date where the lady asked to switch sides on the sidewalk. At the time I didn't know why she would ask, but I obliged of course. Now I know why.

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  5. Sam19952005

    Always one of my favorite guests to listen and from the flagship podcast no less. Nice to have there’s Jonah too.

    Great episode and while it only confirms a bias I seem to have I understand the he needs to be loved depravity of the guy I am never sure how he emerged to try to prove love and loyalty in many of his action and if it was chicken or the egg.

    Stipulating he a person of low personal character (to be generous) and an example of the most selfish anti American who would destroy everything to have love and loyalty and all the thing Jonah says all the time.

    But after he realized leaning into the attacks gave him self importance and maybe even power (see character comment) I never be sure how far he would go after the “I could shoot …” comment. He was bad and made worse because he found love in attacks. He has never and will never care what happens to others or the country unless his ego is stroked first and most.

    Again a terrible person and hope and pray he will disappear.

    Thanks Sarah for a least suggesting a different narrative the JD although you had limited commitment I know.

    You are one of my favorite communicators and thinkers and you make me think, laugh and agree a lot.

    With gratitude to you both and The Dispatch Media.

    Ps save us from the clowns.

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    Anne W (Raw5254)

    Love the dating advice! It’s true. Being treated nicely by someone who asks you out tells you something. And, I have to admit, that as someone who is a lot older, I agree with Sarah, too. But deal breakers? Of course, there should be things, but that sure isn’t going to come up right away. That’s part of getting to know the other person, and it’s not going to happen right away. BUT, stoping for injured animals is REALLY important!

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    David Burke

    Inclement weather the gentleman walks on street side to protect from splashes. Fine weather and he walks on the side to absorb toilet and wash basin effluvia.

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  8. Mike Dennis

    Since the Skiff extras/outakes lack their own comment thread, this seems like the best place to post this tidbit. In The Skiff's "Jonah and Sarah Share Grammar Grievances" (which appears to have followed this episode of The Remnant), Jonah and Sarah cite irritation with the misuse of decimate.

    In a strange twist of fate, Jonah's use of decimate is cited in an article titled "Regarding the Incorrect Use of 'Decimate' - It's totally fine to use 'decimate' as a synonym for 'devastate'. This is why." at Merriam-Webster.

    “When Pilgrims came to North America, it was often described as an inhospitable wilderness. Malaria, smallpox and yellow fever decimated immigrants (not to mention untold millions of Native Americans).”
    — Jonah Goldberg, Los Angeles Times, 2 Jul. 2013

    https://www.merriam-webster.com/grammar/the-original-definition-of-decimate

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    Msmerm

    I was blown away by the dating stuff. Not by the rules which were delightful, and spot-on, but by the genuine friendliness of a sparkling conversation between a man and a woman (in committed relationships with other beloved spouses) laying cards face-up on the table in order to help the young ones. It's like something out of an Isak Dineson short story and not seen much these days.

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    CP

    So I want to know which of the secret dating rules young Ben Shapiro violated. Did he not let Sarah eat from his plate? Or did he forget to walk on the outside of her?

    And I now have an obligation to post this:

    https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=RNGm1cr6D4k&pp=ygU6ZmxpZ2h0IG9mIHRoZSBjb25jaG9yZHMgZGlkIHlvdSB3YWxrIG9uIHRoZSBvdXRzaWRlIG9mIGhlcg%3D%3D

    I always walked around the car to open the door, but it never even occurred to me to pull out seats. I suppose there are so many ways that gesture could go wrong.

    I need more Sarah-Jonah banter in my life. The two most entertaining people on The Dispatch by far.

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      Anne W (Raw5254)

      Pulling out the chair is probably a bit “old fashion,” but believe me, there is something nice about it. When I walk with my husband, he automatically walks on the outside. I commented on it early on, and he said it’s supposed to keep me safe from bikes, cars, etc. Okay, plenty of women are probably rolling their eyes (I’d never heard of it), but just the fact that he made an effort to show me he was interested in making an impression on me tells me a lot. He often still opens the car door for me, and always opens other doors. We’ve been together 36 years, and I adore him.

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